Night and Weekend Advocate

Wayne County Protective Agency, Inc.

Fair Haven

Night and Weekend Advocate

Part-Time: 20–30 hours per week,

Reports to: Shelter Manager

Position Summary

The Night and Weekend Advocate is responsible for maintaining a safe, supportive, and confidential shelter environment for victims of domestic violence and their children during assigned evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday shifts. This position provides crisis call response, client support, shelter monitoring, documentation, and assistance with day-to-day shelter operations.

Essential Responsibilities

• Maintain client and shelter safety, security, and confidentiality during all shift coverage.
• Protect the confidentiality of all client information. Client situations, cases, personal information, and staff matters are not to be discussed with other clients or unauthorized individuals.
• Answer and assess crisis calls. Provide appropriate options, including shelter intake, safety planning, emotional support, referrals to community resources, referral to another shelter if Fair Haven is full, or placement in outreach/non-residential services.
• Monitor shelter entrances, exits, windows, and common areas to ensure safety and security.
• Greet each client by name upon arrival for shift, check on their well-being, and determine whether they have any immediate needs.
• Provide meaningful contact with clients during each shift and document all required interactions in Apricot before the end of shift.
• Document all client-related and shelter-related incidents in the shift change log and/or client file as appropriate.
• Explain and enforce shelter rules, expectations, and procedures in a respectful and consistent manner.
• Maintain medications in the locked medication box/file and distribute medications to clients as required by shelter procedures.
• Maintain child-safety measures by checking for poisons, sharp objects, uncovered outlets, unsafe items, or other hazards within reach of children.
• Monitor client telephone use on the crisis/hall line as required by shelter procedure.
• Ensure client bedrooms are clean, prepared, and ready for new shelter participants.
• Enforce cleanliness of the shelter and ensure clients complete assigned chores satisfactorily.
• Notify the Shelter Manager of needed repairs, maintenance concerns, supply needs, or safety issues.
• Receive and record donations, including what was donated and from whom. Prepare thank-you notes when applicable.
• Make recommendations regarding procedures or concerns that may improve overall shelter operations.
• Practice energy-saving measures, including turning off lights and televisions when not in use, monitoring dryer use, and keeping heat/air settings reasonable.
• Attend required staff meetings and trainings.
• Demonstrate a sincere commitment to the success of the program and the mission of Fair Haven.
• Weekend advocates shall complete room checks between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Room checks include made beds, no food or drinks, clothing off the floor, no crayons/markers on floors or walls, organized closets, no items pushed under beds, neat dresser tops, vacuumed floors, organized crib areas if used for storage, electronics turned off when not in use, blinds properly maintained, and any other areas needing attention.
• Overnight advocates working 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. may rest during the shift when all duties are completed and client needs are met; however, sleeping is not permitted.
• Personal calls, cell phone use, computer use, reading, and texting must be limited and may only occur after all client needs are met, meaningful contact has occurred, shelter responsibilities are completed, and the shelter remains safe and secure.
• Treat all clients with respect, concern, dignity, and fairness. Favoritism is not permitted.
• Address concerns involving difficult client situations with the Shelter Manager.
• Reinforce non-physical discipline methods with parents. Corporal punishment is not allowed in shelter. Appropriate alternatives may include time-out, loss of privileges, earlier bedtime, or other approved methods.
• Personal issues should not interfere with professional responsibilities. Staff are expected to report to work prepared to provide calm, respectful, and supportive services.

Expectations

The shelter exists to provide safety, support, and advocacy for victims of domestic violence and their children. The Night and Weekend Advocate is expected to remain alert, professional, trauma-informed, and responsive to the needs of shelter participants throughout the entire shift.

Pay: $10.00 - $12.00 per hour

Work Location: In person

Salary : $10 - $12